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Rh struck him that for a powerful bribe he might be made a willing tool to serve him in the capacity desired by the General. The young man having been bought over accordingly, repaired to the Bower, and was hired as we have seen by Mrs. De Brooke;—his looks and manners having terrified and prepossessed Rosilia, not without reason, against him.

This agent had no sooner set down Mrs. De Brooke and her daughter at the house of Mrs. Boville than he hastened to give due information of it to his nefarious employer.

"'Tis well," answered he; "return to your post, I may soon require your services."

Melliphant was well acquainted with every part of the grounds belonging to the house but recently occupied by Mrs. Boville. Whilst undergoing repair he had wandered over them repeatedly. There was not a winding alley or turning that was unknown to him. The isolated situation in which the vault entombing the ancient inhabitants of the dwelling lay, he also knew.

It had been discovered to him by Sir Howard Sinclair, whose misanthropic propensity to the visitation of tombs, or to wander amidst churchyard graves, we have already noticed, and who, on a visit to Sir Arthur, in passing near the house now in the occupation of Mrs. Boville, would, in company with Melliphant, often alight from his horse or curricle to make a descent to the sepulchre—amidst those